At
the time of
the original
release of The
Exorcist in
1973, rumors
were rampant
suggesting that
subliminal imagery
was greatly
responsible
for the disturbing
effect of the
film on many
viewers. In
fact, many brief
glimpses of
demonic faces
had been removed
from the original
cut of the film,
later to be
restored in
a new version
which also included
the startling
'spider walk'
sequence. The
white-faced
demon who flashes
onscreen several
times during
the film was
patterned after
a mask from
a 1964 Japanese
horror film
titled 'Onibaba.'
Though none
of the demonic
images that
appear in The
Exorcist can
be defined as
truly subliminal,
there can be
no doubt that
they leave a
conscious impression
on viewers,
in addition
to the many
other shocking
images created
by make-up legend
Dick Smith.